Evergreen celebrates aged care workers

Retirement living community Evergreen recently celebrated Aged Care Employee Day with residents and families.

Now in its seventh year, the national initiative celebrates the thousands of nurses, personal care workers, chefs, cleaners, gardeners, laundry staff, activity coordinators and administrators who support older Australians each day.

At a special event at Evergreen Village in West Gosford, the leadership team honoured staff who reached service milestones and those nominated by residents for their professionalism, compassion, and dedication to outstanding care.

Among those recognised were: Shelly Luck (Employee of the Year); Prameela Thapa (CEO Award); Heidi Guthrie (Lodge Residents’ Choice) and Kim Grogan (Village Residents’ Choice).

The event provided a chance to pause, reflect, and say a heartfelt “thanks for caring” to the team members who bring Evergreen’s values to life each day through their hands-on support, warm companionship, and unwavering commitment to dignity in ageing.

“Every day, aged care employees perform their roles with immense dedication and compassion, going above and beyond to ensure the well-being of our older community members,” CEO Brendan Moore said.

“Aged Care Employee Day is an opportunity for all of us to express our deepest gratitude and appreciation for their invaluable contributions.”

The event also celebrated long-serving staff who have built meaningful careers at Evergreen, forming strong bonds with residents and helping to shape a culture of consistency and trust.

Vicki Wright was honoured for an extraordinary 30 years of service.

She began her journey as a cleaner, later moving into the kitchen before completing her Assistant in Nursing (AIN) training.

Throughout her career at Evergreen, Wright has been known for her warm and personable connections with residents.

Sarah Kane, celebrating 20 years with Evergreen, started as a trainee AIN in 2005.

She was among the first to work in the dementia wing when it opened in 2003, and has since grown into key leadership roles across Quality, Education and HR.

Her current role as HR Advisor reflects her experience and her commitment to supporting others in their careers.

Additional staff recognised for their long-standing service included Cheri Bach (15 years) and Diane Gallagher (10 years).

Recognised for fiver years’ service were Kerrie Martin, Sonia Pook, Thanaporn Stamm, Sarah Drylie, Abin Joseph, Aneena Kuriakose, Anima Gurung, Caleb Dundas, Gurpreet Kaur, Kim Wallis, Migmar Tsamchoe, Mark Carlin, Poonam Kahlon, Kim Grogan, Mary Brady, Gina Parsons, Mary Frost, Belle Truesdale and Tony Thomas.

“Our people are the reason Evergreen is more than just a place to live; it’s a community,” Moore said.

“We’re proud to be a local provider of care that’s grounded in genuine relationships and built to last.

“Their stories are not only about longevity; they’re about loyalty, care and connection”.

While the day may be over for another year, the message remains: to all those who care, thank you – your work matters.